If Kanye West wants to wear a leather gladiator tunic with matching leather leggings that's okay. If Jay-Z needs to rep New York, Baltimore doesn't mind. The Watch the Throne Tour is basically a free pass for two beloved artists to do whatever they want. It's pretty great.
Three shows into the 26 stop tour, Jay and Kanye brought huge energy to 1st Mariner Arena on Tuesday night. They opened with "H.A.M." standing on two facing platforms. One was at the front of the stage and the other was in middle of the audience. As they rapped, both platforms ascended bringing each performer into a space between nosebleed and the floor.
The setup implied a duel, but the concert was never competitive. Jay and Kanye each had solo time to perform their hits, but they interspersed tracks from Watch the Throne so they could perform together throughout the 37-song set.
Jay-Z remained (relatively) understated and calm throughout the show. He embodied the older mentor figure and was generous both with Kanye and in terms of audience interaction. He frequently pointed to specific people, acknowleding them and calling them out. All of the show's best moments included Jay-Z's broad and genuine grin.
Kanye had a different type of poise. He strutted and danced, underwent numerous costume changes (while still maintaining the leather bottoms) and largely ignored the audience at the beginning of the show. After "Runaway" he soliloquized extensively about the importance of holding on to loved ones. After this self-indulgence, though, he was much more friendly. During the duo's three repetitions of "N----- in Paris" at the end of the show, Kanye was smiling openly.
The concert had fire balls, sweet lasers and videos of snarling Rottweilers, but it also had a politically charged video montage set to Louis Armstrong's
"Wonderful World." Most importantly, Kanye and Jay's genuine affection and mutual admiration came through any staged camaraderie. Their self-possession and command was truly enviable.
The audience roared through the whole concert and the rappers supported one another when they were both on stage by singing each other's lyrics and leading key lines.
"Baltimore blew every city off the map thus far," Jay said toward the end of the show.
Basically Tuesday night was mad real.
